Interview With Peter Longo - World Class Trick Shot Artist

Below is an interview with Peter Longo the World Class Trick Shot Artist, known as "The King Of Clubs". The Peter Longo Golf Show has exhibited worldwide more than 2,800 times. Peter is a PGA Life Member, and aformer PGA Tour player.

In addition, he is a recognized world authority on golf for disabled people. He produced the first ever teaching video for handicapped people and instructors, "Challenge Golf" in 1986 and authored the PGA's official teaching CD on disabled golf, "Challenge Golf CD", in 2005.

The following are a few traditional and non traditional golf centric questions that I love to ask influential people in the golf industry.

When did you start golfing and who introduced you do the game?
Age 14, my home town of Chicago. Introduced by my father. I became curious about this game that could make my Dad get up at 4AM on his only day off to go play.

He took me out and I played 18 holes on a regulation course shooting 75-50 for 125. I was hooked.

A year later I was shooting in the upper 70's and proclaimed I was going to become a golf pro. I turned pro at age 20, 40 years ago.

What is your current home course?
Ocotillo Golf Resort, Chandler, AZ in the winter.
Oak Meadows Golf Club, Addison, IL in the summer.

To date, what is your proudest golf accomplishment?
After failing on the PGA tour, 30 years ago, I developed a successful trick shot show that has become a multi-sided career, featuring keynote speaking, radio, television and print work.

Having the public accept what I do is my great reward.

What is your biggest golf pet peeve on or off the course?
People who drive with their turn signal on. This applies to golf carts as well as cars.

What is your favorite club in your bag and why?
Driver. Drive for show ... and that's enough for me.

What is your favorite golf destination?
The next course I am about to play.

What course is on your bucket list that you have not played yet?
Augusta National. Always thought I'd get there as a Tour player, but so far, only a ticket gets me on the grounds.

If you woke up tomorrow and could play one course you played before, where would you play?
Cypress Point, Monterey, CA. A preview of what golf in Heaven must be like.

If you could change one aspect, rule or thing about golf, what would it be and why?
Whoever invented putting was a sick person. I'd eliminate putting altogether and end the play of a hole by hitting the ball into a barrel with a six foot diameter buried to ground level. And never move it, either.

Dream foursome (living)?
Me and three of my biggest creditors. In four hours, I could make friends and talk them into forgiving my debt.

Dream foursome (living or dead)?
Me, Cleopatra, Samson and Goliath. Just Cleo and I would play. The other two would stand guard.

18 Rapid Fire, Off The Cuff Questions

1) Hitting Long Drive OR Sinking Long Putt?
Sinking a Long Putt. Something I've only seen done.

2) Having Round of Life OR Hole in One?
Round of life. When you make a hole-in-one, it shakes you up and you play terrible after that.

3) Golfing at the crack of dawn OR twilight?
Twilight. Only insomniacs and musicians are up at dawn.

4) Hit a power fade OR power draw?
Hit the Power Ball ... a lottery jackpot of $1,000,000 at least.

5) Beverage cart OR halfway house?
Beverage cart. The only time a girl talks to me with no one else around.

6) Bathroom OR bushes?
Puhleeze.

7) Hot dog OR wrap?
Hot dog. Asking for a "wrap" got you beat up in my neighborhood.

8) Around the green, being in sand OR thick rough?
Thick rough. There are 100 excuses for a bad shot out of thick rough.

9) Walking OR riding?
Riding. I don't even like walking from the car to the pro shop.

10) Do you carry traditional 3 iron OR hybrid?
Both. Never know which one will be "on" that day.

11) Do you prefer long par 3 OR long par 5?
Long Par 5 for sure. More time to try and recover.

12) Pants OR Shorts?
Pants with velcro at Bermuda short length. Ready for anything.

13) Palmer OR Nicklaus?
Maurice Flitcroft, the British iron worker who tried to qualify for the British Open six times using phony pro names. Never shot better than 120 but his appearance saved everyone else the embarrassment of finishing last. That's nice.

14) Beatles OR Elvis?
None of 'em played golf, so who cares?

15) Play for fun OR play for money?
Play for the fun of winning money.

16) Bump and run OR flop shot?
Bump and run. Have had too many flops to do it on purpose.

17) Lay up OR gamble?
Laying up is a gamble that you're good enough to get the ball down in two from 100 yards away. Sounds like a bad bet.

18) 18 holes OR 36?
I prefer 9 holes, four times ... continuing to 18 only if the preceding nine is really good.